Camera Lens Cap Holder

Lens cap covers are a necessary evil. They protect my DSLR camera's lens when I'm not using the camera, but they are so easy to lose. I've resorted to buying those keepers that you glue on to the cap and attach to the camera strap with an elastic band. You don't lose the lens cap – if the glue holds – but the cap is flopping around while you use the camera. And when you have multiple lenses, you have to change the lens cap keeper as you change the lens. Enter Mark Stevenson, who invented a patent-pending Camera Lens Cap Holder that slides over your camera strap and holds multiple sizes of lens caps for a given camera type. You just snap them on the holder and they're held by friction – just as they are when they're on your lens. Mark's Kickstarter project was funded at 375% percent of the request. Hopefully these will be available for purchase soon.
source: The Gadgeteer

Kodak considering selling 1,100 of its patents

With the Apple vs Samsung legal battle going on, you may have forgotten about Kodak's very own legal battle against Apple and Research In Motion (RIM). For those who may have forgotten, early last year Kodak sued Apple along with RIM for infringing on their image-previewing patent. Apparently the cost of an ongoing lawsuit can be quite expensive as Kodak has expressed interest in raising cash as their patent litigation income has started to dry up over the last two quarters.

In an attempt to raise money (and perhaps to end the lawsuit once and for all), Kodak has been reported to be considering selling some 1,100 patents which makes up for about 10% of the company's portfolio, and among those 1,100 patents is the very same image-previewing patent that Apple and RIM are accused of infringing upon.

Some are speculating that Apple and RIM may try to buy those patents not only to put an end to the lawsuit, but also to protect themselves. If another company were to buy those patents, Apple and RIM could very well see themselves back in court or be forced to pay royalties. As it stands, both Samsung and LG have already settled the lawsuit with Kodak for $900 million and could be one of the companies that may try to place a bid for those patents, also in an effort to protect themselves from future lawsuits.
source: Ubergizmo

JVC launches GZ-HM670 HD capable video camera

Looking to get your hands on a HD capable video camera? If so, JVC's latest offering could be just what you're looking for.

The latest video camera offered by JVC will be utilizing the company's Falconbird processor which the company claims to provide smooth HD video recording thanks to improved tracking during changes in a scene.

The GZ-HM670 also features a 40x Konica Minolta Optical Zoom which is said to not degrade images even when zoomed in, a BSI CMOS sensor (back side illuminated) that should allow you to film in low-light conditions and comes with 32GB of internal memory as well as its SDX slot should the 32GB prove not to be enough.

According to its website (translated from Japanese to English), the GZ-HM670 will also be able to record still photographs at 3.2MP. It also measures 50.5x55x110.5mm and will weigh just 235g. Unfortunately there is no word on pricing or availability.
source: Ubergizmo

Sony NEX-5N, NEX-7 and Alpha A77 to be unveiled August 24th?

Mirrorless cameras have started gaining traction and popularity with more companies hopping aboard the mirrorless bandwagon. Sony was a bit late to the mirrorless camera game, releasing their NEX-3 and NEX-5 just last year. Despite that they are moving along pretty quickly and according to recent rumors, Sony may be unveiling the NEX-5N, NEX-7 and part of their DSLR series, the Alpha A77.

The unveiling is expected to occur at an event that is scheduled on the 24th of August. According to the rumors, new lenses are expected to be unveiled along with the three brand new cameras, and they are the Carl Zeiss 24mm f/1.8 fixed-length lens, a 55-210mm f/4-6.3 super zoom lens and a 50mm f/1.8 OSS (Optical Steady Shot) lens.

As far as the camera specifications are concerned, the NEX-7 is expected to target the more professional users who may require a smaller sized camera. It is also expected to be a rival for the Fujifilm X100. The Sony NEX-5N is said to be a refresh of the NEX-5 with a new sensor and a build that is somewhat similar to the NEX-C3. Unfortunately not much is known about the Alpha A77.
source: Ubergizmo

Leica Offers to Remove M9 Red Dot for Just $2,000

Leica sure makes some fine cameras, and some even better lenses. But what is it with those prices? When I picked up a used M6 with a 35mm aspherical lens some years ago, they cost me around £800 ($1,300) apiece. Back then it was probably the most money I has ever spent on anything. Now, next to the $7,000 M9 body, it looks like pocket change.

But Leica's latest effort is possibly the most ridiculous yet. For just $2,000, the company will remove the famous red dot from the top of your M9.

The “upgrade” package essentially turns your M9 into the recently-announced M9-P. Along with a replacement top-plate, which on the M9-P comes without the red dot, buyers will also get a sapphire crystal cover on the rear LCD, and a replacement bottom plate. These plates can be specced in black paint or silver chrome finishes, the latter of which is not available on the bare-bones M9.

Finally, you get the choice of vulcanite or leatherette trims.

If you don't care about the red dot (or if you have discovered how to peel and stick electrical tape) then you can opt for the cheap-o “Sapphire Glass Upgrade.” This costs just $1,300, and replaces only the glass and leatherette trim.

A new, tough LCD cover is nice, is it $2,000, or even $1,300 nice? For that kind of cash you could buy a 28mm ƒ2.8 Elmarit-M Aspherical lens.

Leica Offers Upgrade Package to Transform M9 into M9-P Camera [PDN]
source: Gadget Lab

Coby SNAPP Mini Camcorder For Only $19.45

Here's your chance to take home this Coby SNAPP Mini Camcorder for only $19.45 (normal price $45.99) over at Amazon. Powered by 2x AA batteries, this compact video camera is equipped with a 1.3MP CMOS image sensor, a 4x digital zoom, a 1.44-inch TFT LCD screen, an SD/SDHC card slot (up to 8GB), a USB 2.0 port and can capture 640 x 480 video at 30fps.
source: TechFresh

Stealth Gear Square Filter System

Stealth Gear has introduced a new line of high quality filters that allows you to make special effect pictures. These filters are made of high quality organic glass, which is highly resistant to shocks. The Stealth Gear Square Filter System fits the Cokin P-system. There are 10 filters available such as 3 neutral density filters, 3 graduated filters (neutral grey, blue and brown), a circular polariser, a sunset filter and 2 star filters
source: TechFresh

JVC new compact HD Everio camcorder comes preloaded with Falconbird image Engine

JVC's Falconbird image engine is a remarkable little chipset that provide the necessary processing power to handle heavy HD but also 4K2K videos, and today, JVC announced that its new compact (50.5x55x110.5mm for 235g) Everio GZ-HM670, a 3.32Mpix camcorder will featuring Falconbird chipset for smooth HD video recoding.

Other noticeable features on this new GZ-HM670 are its 40x Konica Minolta Optical Zoom, its BSI CMOS Sensor (Back Side Illuminated) and its 32GB of internal memory as well as its SDX Slot.

Along side the GZ-HM670's announcement, JVC also introduced the CU-BD50 an external Blu-Ray writer made to unload your GZ-HM670's videos on a Blu-Ray disk on the go.
source: Akihabara News

“Un Photoalbum” is Elecom's digital picture frame

With digital photos starting to replace the need for film, it also is starting to reduce the need for conventional picture frames. After all why would you need to print photographs and store them in frames when they can be easily accessed from our computers, smartphones and tablets? One could argue that picture frames placed around a home would make it feel more "homely" and adds a personal touch and that's what Elecom is hoping to achieve with their "Un Photoalbum".

Granted that digital picture frames aren't exactly breaking news in the tech world, display quality along with battery life for such gadgets are constantly changing and evolving, and Elecom's DPF-A8WM10 series is no different.

Featuring an 8" LED display, the digital picture frame seems to be rather compact and should not take up unnecessary space on your mantle or shelf. It also has the capability of displaying a resolution of 1280×768, which is bigger than what some other competing companies offer (800×600 resolution).

It will also come with 2GB of internal memory, a SDXC Slot, HDMI out, USB 2.0 and USB OTG (so you can directly plug-in your digital camera and what not), along with full HD video playback as well as support for DivX and H.264 video files. Elecom is claiming that the frame should have enough power to have a continuous slideshow of photos for up to 3 hours.
source: Ubergizmo

Pocket Digicam Has a Real Tilt-Shift Lens

Forget about those faux tilt-shift effects. When a special effect is baked into almost every consumer digicam out there, it has clearly donned a leather jacket and a pair of swimming trunks, hopped onto some waterskis and jumped over a shark.

Instead, why not try the real thing? A proper, architectural tilt-shift lens is a precision-engineered and expensive piece of gear, but Photojojo's Tilt-Shift Camera has a real shifting lens, and costs just $150.

Technically, it should be called the Tilt Camera as it lacks the “shift” part which lets you moves the lens up and down like you would slide the two sides of an Oreo over the melted filling within. This lets the photographer correct converging verticals, which you probably don't care about anyway.

Moving the angle of the lens moves the angle of the focal plane, which is usually parallel to the “film” plane. Thus you can make people and buildings look tiny, or you could make the whole top of your dinner table be in sharp focus, from end to end.

You pictures are recorded onto a 5MP sensor, shutter speeds run from 1x4 to 1x3000 sec, and you can even shoot tilt-shift video at 640 x 480 pixels. Round back there's a 2.4-inch LCD, up top you'll find a flash, and you can also mess with your photos using some built in Instagrammatical effects.

It looks like a lot of fun, and the resulting images seem to make much more convincing miniatures than software-based filters. The Tilt-Shift Camera is available now.

Tilt-Shift Camera [Photojojo]
source: Gadget Lab

Ingenious Lens Cap and Hood Opens Like a Blooming Flower

The Hoodcap Flower. Why did nobody think of this already?

Here's a very neat two-in-one idea. It's called the HoodCap Flower, and it combines a lens cap and a lens hood into one neat package. Although rather complex in execution, the concept itself is simple: the lens cap is made up of blades which fold out like the petals of a flower. They then surround the lens and stop stray light from entering bouncing around the lens as you shoot.

Not only is it clever, it solves a number of problems. First, you don't have to remove a lens cap, find somewhere to put it and then — almost inevitably — lose it. Second, you don't have to walk around with a bulky hood sticking out. And third, you always know whether or not the cap is on before you hold the lens up to your eye.

Finally, you probably never need to use a “protective” UV filter again, as the front element of the lens is always covered, more or less.

The internal gearing system looks rather delicate

The designers of the HoodCap, Rhie Hyi Joong and Lee Sang Hwa, decided to make their concept use a complex worm-gear system to open and close the hood by twisting a collar around the lens. If it works, I'm in. But if not, I'd be happy just pushing and pulling on the leaves to open and close the hood, just like the blades of one of those folding aluminum steamer inserts for saucepans.

Blooming DSLR [Yanko]
source: Gadget Lab

Ricoh finally introduces its GRX Leica M Mount module with the GRX MOUNT A12.

The Ricoh GRX is a stunning little camera that we totally fall in love for when released, and earlier this year, the company shown at CP+ 2011 a new prototype of 12Mpix CMOS module that will fit any Leica M Mount lenses. Today, Ricoh made if official and introduces the GRX MOUNT A12 for GRX owners that come with a 12.3Mpix Censor and that support all GRX's features. Good lord there are so many impressive compact camera nowadays that I really don't know which one to choose from!
source: Akihabara News

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM Telephoto Lens

The Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM telephoto lens is now listed on B&H Photo site. Designed for nature, wildlife, or sports photography, this telephoto lens has the Image Stabilization system that offers up to four extra stops of performance. The Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens also features Fluorite optics that deliver sharper images with less chromatic aberration, and Fluorine coating that keeps soiling, smears and fingerprints to a minimum. The Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM telephoto lens is priced at $7,299.
source: TechFresh

Control your Canon DSLR from your Android Smartphone

DSLR Controller (Beta) is a nifty little application that every Canon DLSR owners should get! Once connected to your Camera via USB, DSLR Controller will let you from your smartphone or tablet touchscreen change all setting you may need, control select your Focus Point and of course let you shoot photos and this without the needs of a PC or Mac (like other iPhone Apps)!

Just for this I may invest in an Android Smartphone and give my 5D MK II an even more "transportable" auxiliary display!
source: Akihabara News

Vivitar DVR 690HD Waterproof Pocket HD Camcorder

Check out this newly released waterproof pocket HD camcorder from Vivitar, the DVR 690HD. This waterproof camcorder (up to 10 feet) sports a 4x digital zoom, a 2.0-inch TFT LCD display, an SD card slot (up to 32GB), a built-in microphone and speaker, a USB 2.0 port, a TV-out, a rechargeable Lithium Ion battery and can capture 720p HD video at 25fps. The DVR 690HD retails for only $59.99.
source: TechFresh

Vivitar's $69 Underwater Camcorder Is Ready for Your Vacation

Vivitar's new camcorder costs $60, and shoots underwater. What more do I need to say?

Vivitar's latest addition to the groaning shelves of adequate cameras is the 690 HD, a small and very cheap waterproof camcorder.

At $60, you're probably not expecting much in the way of features, and Vivitar doesn't disappoint. That's not to say the camera is bad — just stripped down to the bare basics. There's no auto-focus, no HDMI-out and no optical zoom, but everything important is included.

Video is motion-JPEG in an AVI wrapper, recoded at 720 x 1280 and 25fps. It is recorded onto an SD card and powered by its own rechargeable lithium battery. There's a big LED lamp around the lens for shooting in the murky depths, and a 2-inch LCD screen to view your masterpieces. You can also hook the camera directly to a TV via an AV cable.

Not bad, right? And remember, nobody will care about the fixed focus or anything else, because all of your movies will be shot underwater. Up to ten feet under, to be precise.

As I said, the 690 HD is just $60. At that price, its hard to argue against grabbing one for your vacation. Available now, in a rainbow of color choices.

Vivitar 690 HD product page [Vivitar. Thanks, Kelly!]
source: Gadget Lab

JVC Releases Everio GZ-HM670 Camcorder

JVC is ready to release the Everio GZ-HM670 high performance camcorder. The video camera features the company's Falconbrid video processing engine, which is able to handle both picture and video at very high speeds. The camcorder also has a 40x optical Konica-Minolta zoom, a 2.7-inch touchscreen LCD, and a 3.3-megapixel backside-illuminated CMOS sensor. Additional features include a 32GB of internal memory, which is expandable via an SDXC card slot. Available in Urban Black, Ultra Brown, Silky White, White Gold, Royal Blue, or Red Rouge, the JVC Everio GZ-HM670 is priced at around $500. [Impress]
source: TechFresh

CVSL-I157 HD Spy Camera Watch

Chinavasion has added a new spy gadget to its product page that comes in the form of an ordinary looking wristwatch. Dubbed as the CVSL-I157 HD Spy Camera Watch, this modern looking analog watch sports a 4GB of storage space, a built-in MP3 player, a built-in microphone, a high capacity lithium polymer battery, a mini USB port and can capture both 720p HD video at 30fps as well as up to 1600 x 1200 digital still images. The CVSL-I157 HD Spy Camera Watch can be yours for just $51.12.
source: TechFresh

Vivitar 690 HD Underwater Pocket Video Camera

Vivitar 690 HD Unerwater camcorder

Vivitar is introducing the 690 HD, a water proof pocket HD camcorder (up to 10 feet) that features a 4x digital zoom. For only $59.99, you will be able to shoot 720p AVI (M-JPEG) movies at 25 fps and store it on the SD card, you will need 1 GB for each 6 minutes of recording. The 690 HD can capture VGA(640×480) and QVGA(320×240) video at 30 fps as well, and it comes in many different colors including black (photo).

Other features include a 2.0" TFT LCD display, a built-in microphone and speaker, a LED light, a TV-out connector (but no HDMI), a built-in lithium-ion battery and a USB 2.0 connector for easy upload to Facebook, Myspace, Flickr, Picasa Albums, Photobucket, Youtube and more...

The M-JPEG (Motion JPEG) video format offers slightly better quality than M-PEG 4 but requires more storage space on the SD card, for this reason it is currently rarely used by camera manufacturers. The format is supported by Youtube.

For this great price point the features are good enough to make fun videos during vacations, for comparison, the Kodak PlaySport Zx5 costs $179.95 and offers full HD video capture at 30 fps or 720p at 60 fps in MPEG-4, in addition of waterproof the Zx5 is shock resistant and dust proof. In MPEG-4, the Kodak camcorder stores 20 min. per 1 GB at 720p HD @ 30 fps on the SD/SDHC card.
source: Ubergizmo